Proposing a Framework for Investigating Acceptance of AI-Based Tools by Lawyers

Equal access to legal services and law, guaranteed by the government, is one of the basic building blocks of democracy. A legal ecosystem can suffer from overload and lack of investment, which may result in access barriers for professionals and citizens and multiply societal inequalities. AI-based tools can solve many work-related issues in the legal ecosystem and democratise access to law and justice. Their major goal is to facilitate how legal professionals work, automatise decision-making, remove repetitive tasks, and decrease costs. This study proposes a framework for investigating lawyers' acceptance of AI-based tools and their role in reassuring equal access to law and justice. The study applies both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Based on eight interviews with experts, the study identifies the variables for the theoretical framework of AI-based tools' acceptance. The model was pretested with a sample of 60 lawyers.